Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Charli Persip, one of the foremost bop-style big band drummers, was born this day in 1929 in Morristown, N.J.

Pianist Patti Bown was born this day in 1931 in Seattle.

Bandleader and trumpeter Erskine Hawkins was born this day in 1914 in Birmingham, Ala. He died in 1993.

On this day in 1932, Billy Banks' Rhythmmakers recorded the "Mean Old Bedbug Blues." This all-star band included Red Allen, PeeWee Russell and Fats Waller.

This was also the day, in 1955, when the Count Basie Orchestra first recorded "April in Paris."

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... Henry Threadgill's Zooid is at Iridium through Sunday. Lalo Schifrin is at the Blue Note for a weeklong 70th birthday celebration. The Larry Willis trio is at the Village Vanguard. The Lonnie Smith trio featuring special guest James Carter is at the Jazz Standard this week. Saxophonist Lew Tabackin is at Birdland tonight.

The Jamie Begian big band is at the Cutting Room tonight. The Bill Easley organ trio is at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem. The Jay Hoggard quartet is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. The Knitting Factory features Mum, Kippi Kaninus, David Tronzo, Kenny Wollesen and J. Anthony Granelli, Little Ricky's House of Chanklettas, Barry Seroff, Joe Mapplebeck, Bleeding Reeds and Ed Chiurco.

Santi Debriano and Circle Chant are at Trumpets in Montclair, N.J., tonight and Saturday. Grady Tate and Frank Wess perform tonight at the Shea Arts Center at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J.

The Great Connecticut JazzFest opens its three-day and night run today at the Guilford Fairgrounds with a wide variety of traditional and Dixieland bands.

The Debra Mann quartet featuring Cercie Miller is a WaterFire's jazz stage tonight in Providence, R.I. Maria Muldaur is at Chan's in Woonsocket.

In and around Boston... singer Kevin Mahogany is at Scullers tonight and Saturday. Edu Tancredi and Bandon 33 are at The Regattabar in Cambridge. The Thaddeus Hogarth group is at Ryles in Cambridge tonight.

Cleo Laine and John Dankworth are featured tonight in the Jazz at Sunset series at the EcoTarium in Worcester. Ron DellaChiesa's Strictly Sinatra concert at the Ramada Rolling Green in Andover tonight features Al Vega, Dick Johnson, Lou Columbo, Ted Casher, Marshall Wood, Gary Johnson and singers Jack Alessi, Dolly Baker and Cassandre McKinley.

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In metro Cleveland, Ohio, the New Harp Experience is at the Cleveland Museum of Art tonight. The Stingers are at Bicentennial Park in Fairlawn tonight. Mickey Hart and the Sun Ra Arkestra are at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in Parkman, Ohio.

The Edge with Deb Alane is at The Bird of Paradise in Ann Arbor, Mich., tonight.

On the Chicago jazz scene... alto saxophonist Frank Morgan's quartet is at the Jazz Showcase this week. Ben Rudolph is at the Green Mill this evening. Skinny Williams is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. The King Fleming trio is at Philander's in Oak Park tonight.

In New Orleans... Amy Adams is at Andrew Jaeger's House of Seafood tonight. Jerry and the Jazzmakers are at the Crescent City Brewhouse. The Treme Brass Band is at Donna's. Dr. Bone and the Hepcats are at Dos Jefes. Jeremy Davenport is at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. The Joe Krown Organ Combo is at the Funky Butt. Topsy Chapman is at Satchmo's jazz room at Harrah's.

Henry Butler is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Kim Prevost and Bill Solley are at Le Salon at Windsor Court. Leroy Jones leads the band tonight at Preservation Hall. The Panorama Jazz Band is at the Seaport Cafe. The Ellis Marsalis trio is at Snug Harbor. Blake Amos and Saudade, Jerry Jumonville and the New Orleans Jazz Vipers are at the Spotted Cat. Juanita Brooks is at Sweet Lorraine.

On the California jazz scene... the John Pizzarelli trio is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood tonight through Sunday. Brian Bromberg's band is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight and Saturday. Tony Guerrero's Swingfest with Elizabeth Lamers is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. Jazz pianist John Opferkuch is at Dizzy's in San Diego tonight with Peter Sprague, Kevin Hennessy and Duncan Moore.

The 34th Fujitsu Concord Jazz Festival opens today at the Concord Pavilion with Jane Monheit, Curtis Stigers and Nnenna Freelon. Saturday's performers include Arturo Sandoval, Eddie Palmieri, the Puente, Machito and Rodriguez Ensemble and the Bay Area's own John Santos and the Machete Ensemble.

The Joey DeFrancesco trio is at Yoshi's in Oakland. Yancy "Vibes" Taylor's trio is at Main Street Station in Guerneville. Giants of Jazz on Film, Hosted by Mark Cantor is at the Stanford Jazz Festival in Palo Alto tonight. In San Francisco, Larry Vuckovich is at Bistro 339 and the Bryce Rohde trio is at the Bix Restaurant and Supper Club.

Kurt Elling and his band are at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle this week.

Richard Bonba and his band are at the jazz festival in Toulon, France, tonight.

On the recording front...

Singer Marcelle Gauvin, who made her debut with "Faces of Love" two years ago, is back with a very fine follow-up called "The Edge of the Pond." The new compact disc was recorded with pianist John Harrison, tenor saxophonist Dino Govoni, bassist Brian Torff and drummer Alan Hall. Gauvin has broadened the scope of her splendid material and risen a notch or two as a singer on this impressive outing. It's on the Whaling City Sound label.

Singer Bryan Anthony has just released his debut album, "Look At Me Now" on the NuJazzCity label. The ex-Glenn Miller Orchestra vocalist is backed on this session by pianist Pete Malinverni, tenor saxophonist Jason Rigby, bassist Phil Palombi and drummer Greg Parnell.

There's a splendid new recording out, self-produced by tenor saxophonist Will Smith, of his Washington, D.C.,-based W.E.S. Group. It's on the Orpheus Music label. One of its strongest tunes is "Atonement," a Latin-tinged composition inspired by Washington's Million Man March.

His family roots go deep into the history of jazz and the African-American experience. Neal Smith and Warren Smith Sr., W.E. Smith's grandfather and great-uncle, owned a music publishing company in the 1920s and published music that was performed by the great King Oliver as well as Noble Sissle. All of the tunes on this session are originals by Smith and all are done well. For more information go to het-herumusic.com.

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